Press releases

In November 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.5% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

An increase was registered in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 2.4%, and in ‘Food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 1.2%, while in ‘Automotive fuel in specialised stores’ was observed а decrease - by 3.5%.  

The calendar-adjusted turnover grew by 3.2% compared to the same month in 2022.

A rise was observed in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (9.0%) and in ‘Non-food products (except fuel)’ (1.7%). Decrease was registered in ‘Automotive fuel in specialised stores’ (3.0%).

In November 2023, revenues of the subsector ‘Central Govermnent’  were reported in the amount of BGN 5 438.21 million and expenditures – BGN 4 994.59 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted  to BGN 2 535.94 million, and the expenditures are BG 2 399.95 million.

The data of the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data of the ‘Social Security Funds’ subsector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In 2022, compared to the previous year 2021, a slight decrease in the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in the country is observed - by 0.35 percentage points, whereby it reaches 19.10%.

Compared to the total share of renewable energy, the sectoral shares show a minimal increase compared to 2021, as the largest increase is observed in renewable energy for heating and cooling - by 1.65 percentage points, reaching a share of 31.67%, followed by the renewable energy in fuel consumption in transport - by 0.06 percentage points, to 7.67%. Electricity produced from renewable sources decreases by 1.17 percentage points to 20.24%.

Detailed data on the Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption and sectoral shares are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Energy'.

For the period December 4th - December 31st, 2023, the number of dead persons in Bulgaria is 7 857 and they are 745 less than during the same period in 2022. The data on deaths in Bulgaria for the period (49th - 52nd week) and by week are available on the website of the National Statistical Institute at the following links:

Mortality | Infostat (infostat.nsi.bg)

Deaths in Bulgaria by weeks | National statistical institute (nsi.bg)

At the end of each year, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) of Bulgaria publishes a comprehensive set of main indicators that represent the demographic, social, and economic development of different regions in the country. The indicators cover various topics, including demographic statistics, labour market, health care, education, investment, non-financial enterprises, transport, research and development (R&D), information society, housing stock, and tourism.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Regional Statistics' and in the INFOSTAT information system.

In October 2023, compared to September 2023, an increase is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 41.3%, motor gasoline - by 12.7%, and transport diesel - by 7.7%. A decrease is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 12.5%, and electricity - by 11.5%. There is no change for the production of natural gas.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is not reported for the production of any of the products. A decrease is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 30.7%, transport diesel - by 15.2%, electricity - by 12.9%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 12.5%, and motor gasoline - by 8.6%. There is no change for the production of natural gas.

In October 2023, compared to September 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 40.3%, natural gas - by 6.7%, transport diesel - by 5.0%, and electricity - by 5.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 11.5%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 2.3%.

Compared to the same month of 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 34.5%, motor gasoline - by 9.5%, and transport diesel - by 5.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 27.7%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 6.5%, and electricity - by 2.7%.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry rose by 0.5% in November 2023 compared to the previous month. An increase of 2.5% was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.1%. In the manufacturing industry the prices fell by 0.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 0.7% in November compared to October 2023. The domestic prices went up in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 2.9%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.3%, while in the manufacturing industry the prices decreased by 0.8%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 11.2% in November 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. There was a considerable decrease in prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 31.6%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 3.2%, and in the manufacturing industry by 1.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 14.6% compared to November 2022. Lower prices were reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 30.3%, in the manufacturing industry by 1.4%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 0.2%.

The National Statistical Institute has published annual data for 2022 on the liabilities of public corporations under Directive 2011/85 EU. The data are represented as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product.

The scope covers public corporations classified in the sectors ‘Non-financial corporations’, ‘Financial corporations’ and ‘Non-profit institutions serving households’, but are controlled by the sector General Government and its subsectors.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In December 2023, the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.8 percentage points compared to the previous month, which is due to the unfavourable business climate in the construction, retail trade and service sector. Only in the industry, the indicator preserves approximately its November level.

The main difficulties for the activity in the sectors remain the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch and costs of materials.

In the third quarter of 2023, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.8% compared to the third quarter of 2022.

In October 2023, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 3.3 percentage points compared to July 2023.

During the third quarter of 2023, 66.9% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.

The relative share of gross fixed capital formation in GDP in the third quarter of 2023 is 16.9%.

The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 53.9%.

The unemployment rate was 4.0% (compared to 3.6% in the third quarter of 2022), 4.3% for men and 3.8% for women.

In the third quarter of 2023, compared to the third quarter of 2022 the total hourly labour cost rose by 15.1% (preliminary data).

In the third quarter of 2023, the house price index increased by 9.2% compared to the same quarter of 2022.